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Six people were found guilty of animal cruelty at a rescue centre in Oxfordshire.

In his summary, District Judge Pattinson said: “Crunchy’s was an animal disaster, a sea of mud and faeces containing shocking and dangerous hazards and in short a rescue centre from which animals needed to be rescued.”

Dog rescued from Cruchy's Credit: RSPCA

The dogs received care after being taken from the centre Credit: RSPCA

What we found at Faringdon Road were filthy, disgusting conditions where animals were being kept amongst all sorts of hazardous items without food and water.

We visited as soon as we received complaints about the welfare of the animals and were shocked by what we found. Many of these animals had been entrusted to the care of the defendants by loving owners. Instead of the care promised, the animals were left in dirty, broken down buildings without vet treatment where it was needed or access to basic care."

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Six people were today (24 June) found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to 11 animals and failing to meet the needs of 39 animals at Bicester Magistrates’ Court after a case brought by the RSPCA.

The charges related to dates in December 2011 and January 2012, when RSPCA officers visited premises in Faringdon Road, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. The location, known as ‘Crunchy’s’ had been set up as a boarding establishment where owners boarded their pets and other animals.

Louise Rose Russell, Kirsty Isabell Russell, Robert Charles Edward Russell, Frederick William Russell and Angela Elizabeth Russell all of Faringdon Road, Longworth, near Abingdon; and Abigail Danielle McHugh of Pendennis Road, Freshbrook, Swindon were found guilty of the offences.